The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-02-10
The Way His Mother Did.

hc could cook jest as his mother did
easy enough. Says !, at tho breakfast
table one morning:
Jeremiah, l billed my meat yesterday,
and if you'll bring in that jug of cider
molasses that you put into the icc-house
to keep cool through the summer, I'll
make up my mince pies to-day"
A simple remark enough. and inno-
cent, but who can tell what word
may bring forth!
81 wish," says the partner of my joys,
and (when he can't dodge them) OF my
sorrows. ~ wish could taste of some of
my mothers pies again. Them was pies
as was pies"
Now, l know that if Philura Jane
Jones can do one thing better than an
other, it is to make mincc pie, but l
kept calm outwardly.
''How was they made9" says !, "what
was the ingrcgicnces?'
"Wail," says he, II used to watch her,
an if you'd hear to me, believe l
could tell you jest how. Hi! wasn't
they good, thought I yum, I believe
could make 'em myself"
"Perhaps you'd better" says coolly.
II cam" says he, can declare for all
tryin' to boss a woman round,-I will. ="
couldn't help but laugh to sec him
60 to work. I got him my big check
apron, and tied it on. l brought out
the flour, and the lard, and the saicratus,
and the salt, and the spice drawer, and
the sugar-box. jeremiah he went out
and got the cider molasses. The meat
nd apples was already on the oil table.
"Therc," says jeremiah, ''Now I'll
show you something about pies"
said nothing, but went to washing
up the breakfast dishes and sweeping
up.
II don't get to baking SO early rs this,
generally" says I. you've got good
start"
20, yes" he answered in his gaycst
tone, "t'won't be no time afore l have
them pies all settin' in row on the
buttery shelf. Haint you got no sour
milk"
why, yes" says I, ''but you don't
want it for mince pies"
"Who's maxim these pics?' says he.
'My mother always used to make sour
milk pic-crust, and believe it would
taste good once more"
So brought the sour milk. lie dipped
out about two quarts OF it in my big
yellow mixing dish.
"Where's the shortnin'7" says he.
"TLere's the lard, and there's the but.
ter here if you'd rather have it,"
'My mother used lard" says he.
"Wherc's dish to melt it in ~
got him dish.
'Most folks rub their shortening into
the nour, says l.
.'My mother didn't" says he. Gas
said before, who's maxim these pies' II
you arc, III go out and mend the fence.
If l am--''
81 won't say another word," says /.
Eve had some experience in managing
opinionatcd pardncr before"
He stirred his melted lard into his
sour milk, and it rose to the top in lit
tie Jumps. Then he began to stir il
flour. see he hadn't put in any salcra
tus, but knew him too we'll to venture tc
say so. jeremiah Jones sometimes need.
to attend the school kept by experience
He stirred and stirred and stirred
When he finally got it thick enough
there was batter enough, such as it wa.
to make several dozen pics.
"Thesc pies are goin' to be so good,
says he, "we'll make up a lot of 'em
Where's the pie platcsl"
brought them to him all buttered
and he begun to roll out lis crust. B.
this time it was so thick that it coult
scarcely be induced to roll out at all, bu
he worked nobly. When he got his frs
piece rolled down TO about an inch il
thickness, be stopped and looked at it.
81 like good thick crust, myself
says he. can inch thick amt TOO mucl
for real juicy inside"
NO" answered, comforting myscl
with the thought that his crust wouldn'
rise up to call him blessed, the way mos
sour milk crusts do. BY the time Ii
had rolled out four under crusts, an,
used perhaps onc-eighth Of his batter
he laid down his rolling pin,